Haggai to Us

Haggai 1:13-14, Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.”  So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God

Here is good church!

“The Lord’s messenger” – God has gifted and sent messengers to His people with a message. The people were up against stiff opposition and mockings and thus hesitant to do the Lord’s work – in this case, the building of a temple.  In our case, stand up and speak up for Jesus and the truth.   God said to them and to us:  I AM WITH YOU!

God reminded them that He was the God of armies (hosts) so nothing was a challenge.

The prophet delivered the message and then God moved!  He stirred the people to action. The leaders were moved as were the people and they went to work!

1:15-2:5, On the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius. 

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying:

 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? 

And how do you see it now?  In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? 

4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. 5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’

A month passed, 6/24 – 7/21.  These were the days of Fall Feasts – Trumpets, Day of Atonement and Tabernacles – so a very solemn time for introspection, repentance and celebration.  Then on the seventh day of Tabernacles – the day before a special Sabbath, God spoke again through His messenger asking three questions of those that He had challenged to get back to work:   1.) Do you remember the glory of the previous temple?  2.) What are your thoughts about the temple you are now building? and 3.) Are you discouraged?

God proceeded to point them to the future and a great glory coming (2:6-9).  How easy it is for us to relish the “good ‘ole days.”  How often we remember the past days as all glorious and grand and thus groan over the current days.

God’s word to those disappointed:

1. Eyes on the future! Paul in Philippians 3:13-14, Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal!
2. Be strong.  Be strong!  Be strong!!! (2:4) – “ I am with you!”
3. Remember the past and how God had promised great things and done so many great things (the conquest of Egypt and the covenant He declared at Sinai, Ex. ).  Do NOT fear!

And another message from God through His messenger: “Consider your ways!”

1:5, Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!”

1:7, Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

2:15, And now, carefully consider from this day forward:

2:18, Consider now from this day forward…consider it

They were experiencing crop failures (1:6, 10) drought, economic distress, and opposition.

God declared five times: “Consider your ways!”  A message for us!!